Mansfield boss Nigel Clough says his team is looking to repeat last season’s FA Cup upset despite playing an 'improved' Sunderland side.
In an odd coincidence, last year’s first-round tie for Sunderland was also against Mansfield at the Stadium of Light. The Black Cats lost 1-0 to the League Two side.
This Saturday Clough is hoping to repeat the trick on his one-year anniversary at the club, though he was also eager to point out the changes at Sunderland since last year.
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Speaking to Mansfield Town’s official website, Clough said : “I think we’re encountering a different Sunderland side. I think they’ve improved immensely over the last 12 months under Lee [Johnson] and they have a better squad.
“They took half a team down to [Championship side] QPR last week and got through to the Carabao Cup quarter-finals. For a League One side that is an incredible achievement.”
Although Sunderland are still fifth in League One after a strong start to the season, the wheels have started to come up slightly. Mansfield meanwhile are near the bottom of League Two, though Clough expects his side to compete.
He said: “We won’t be putting half a team out. We will be going there to win.
“We just need to keep playing as we have in recent weeks. Our last three performances, we deserved to have seven points rather than four from nine.”
After the FA Cup tie Sunderland will have a further two matches at home, starting with Bradford City in the Football league Trophy, before facing Ipswich in the league.
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